police

noun
UK: /pəˈliːs/
US: /pəˈliːs/

  1. A group of people whose job is to enforce laws, help the public, and prevent crime.

    1. The police arrived quickly after we called them. [ ] [ ]
    2. The police are investigating the theft from the local jewelry store that occurred last night. [ ] [ ]

  2. An organization responsible for maintaining order and dealing with lawbreakers.

    1. The police need more funding to fight crime. [ ] [ ]
    2. Local police departments are working to improve community relations and build trust. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

guard control patrol law enforcement
police verb

  1. To monitor or supervise (someone or something) in order to keep order or enforce regulations.

    1. I police my kids when they're online. [ ] [ ]
    2. The security guards police the entrance to ensure only authorized personnel enter the building. [ ] [ ]

  2. To control an area or event to ensure that the law is obeyed.

    1. The military policed the border region after the conflict. [ ] [ ]
    2. The United Nations has been asked to police the ceasefire agreement between the warring factions. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "police" in English means: A group of people whose job is to enforce laws, help the public, and prevent crime., An organization responsible for maintaining order and dealing with lawbreakers..

The phonetic transcription of "police" is /pəˈliːs/ in British English and /pəˈliːs/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "police": guard, control, patrol, law enforcement.

Example usage of "police": "The police arrived quickly after we called them.". More examples on the page.